(19)

(11)

EP 0 935 580 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 18.08.1999 Bulletin 1999/33 (21) Application number: 97947317.0 (22) Date of filing: 31.10.1997

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  B66B 7/ 02( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1997/019905 (87) International publication number: WO 1998/018709 (07.05.1998 Gazette 1998/18)

(84) Designated Contracting States: DE ES FR IT (30) Priority: 31.10.1996 JP 19960290077 (71) Applicant: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY Farmington, CT 06032 (US)	(72) Inventors: ITO, Hideki Kanagawa-ken 226 (JP) MOTOMURA, Kazuhiko Chiba-ken 289-21 (JP) (74) Representative: Leale, Robin George  Frank B. Dehn & Co.,European Patent Attorneys, 179 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4EL London EC4V 4EL (GB)